NI CENTENARY: Ian Paisley says Michelle O’Neill let slip her ‘bitterness’ and ‘pathetic’ grasp of history

Ian Paisley has launched a strongly-worded attack on Michelle O’Neill, over the Sinn Fein regional leader’s comments about the “sectarian” basis for Northern Ireland.
By Adam Kula
Published 14th Aug 2020, 06:00 BST
Ian Paisley MPIan Paisley MP
Ian Paisley MP

Mr Paisley, the DUP’s culture spokesman in Westminster, made the remarks to the News Letter after the issue of NI’s 100th birthday came up during Boris Johnson’s visit to the Province this week.

Michelle O’Neill had said she could not celebrate NI’s creation because it rested on “sectarianism” and “gerrymandering”.

– SEE LINKS BELOW –

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Paisley hit back, saying: “I think it’s incredibly disappointing that someone who fights for and wants to have the title of ‘Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland’ cannot actually now show a bit of leadership and a bit of dignity and a bit of respect,” he told the News Letter.

When it comes to her comments about “sectarianism”, Mr Paisley said Ms O’Neill has shown herself to have “her head firmly stuck in the past”.

He added: “Where is the utopia she is looking for?

“Would she celebrate the Republic of Ireland, that was born out of bloodshed?

“Would she celebrate any other country in the world?

“Or is she so caught up in her own bitterness and pathetic knowledge of Northern Ireland that this is all she can present?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think it’s very poor leadership. A very poor show. And it shows her commitment to Northern Ireland is, as most people suspect, lip service only.”

He said that “partition has actually been a resounding success”, and today Northern Ireland is “a very strong state” .

While he would not expect Sinn Fein to celebrate unionism itself, Ms O’Neill should be able to “find it within herself to celebrate Northern Ireland and what it has become”, he added.

READ MORE FROM THIS REPORTER:

Boris Johnson says NI centenary is ‘obvious’ cause for celebration as O’Neill declares state ‘built on sectarianism’Boris Johnson: Only over my dead body will there be a border in the Irish Sea——————

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor